Nikki's and Pehunco's Stock Farmers Technical Knowledge Effects on Herds of Cattle's Productivity in North of Benin

Abstract

This study aimed to determine herds of cattle’s productivities which supplied diary in Nikki’s and Pehunco’s districts characterized in previous works. Four types of cattle-breeders called CB1, CB2, CB3 and CB4, differentiated by ethnicity, farming - cattle breeding integration, family’s skilled labor level, breeders’ training level, cattle phenotype, endogenous health knowledge, prophylaxis practice and food supplementation with crop residues have been identified. Livestock productivity survey method was used. The General Linear Model applied to survey results show those cattle breeders’ training and cattle’s phenotype influence productivity. Training cattle breeders (CB3) have cattle with better phenotype and have highest productivity (p<0.05). The order zootechnical parameters were influenced by those two characteristics (p<0.05). Hybrid Borgou-Gudali’phenotype allows breeders to improve their exploitation rate. Training breeders have oriented their production on milk in the goal to supply the districts’ diaries. Training enhances cattle production. Milk development projects must focus their actions on breeders training in the goal to supply diaries in fresh milk. CB2’s cattle herds are ones which allow livestock development productivity projects.